Pentabromobenzyl alkyl ethers and their use as fire retardants

A fire retarded polymeric or polymer-containing composition comprising a pentabromobenzyl alkyl ether of the formula:

• wherein:
• Z represents the group —(Y—O)n—, wherein Y is a linear or branched —(C2–C8)alkylene-;
• n represents an integer from 2 to 4;
• k may be 0 or 1;
• R1 represents hydrogen, a linear or branched —(C1–C10)alkyl, a linear or branched —(C2–C10)alkylene-OH, allyl, or 1,2-dibromopropyl;
• provided that when k is zero R1 represents a linear or branched —(C4–C10)alkyl or a linear or branched —(C2–C10)alkylene-OH and when k is 1, R1 represents hydrogen, a linear or branched —(C1–C4)alkyl, allyl or 1,2-dibromopropyl.

A process for the preparation of a pentabromobenzyl alkyl ether of the formula:

• wherein:
• Z represents the group —(Y—O)n—, wherein Y is a linear or branched —(C2–C8)alkylene-;
• n represents an integer from 2 to 4;
• k may be 0 or 1;
• R1 represents hydrogen, a linear or branched —(C1–C10)alkyl, allyl, or 1,2-dibromopropyl;
• provided that when k is zero R1 represents a linear or branched —(C4–C10)alkyl, and when k is 1 R1 represents hydrogen, a linear or branched —(C1–C4)alkyl, allyl or 1,2-dibromopropyl, comprising
• reacting a glycol, a mono-, or di-alcohol of the formula HO—(Z)k—R1, or the corresponding metal alcoholate thereof, with a pentabromobenzyl halide.